Dog attacks disproportionately injure children, and disproportionately injure them in the face. We have guided families through these cases — including young siblings bitten in the same incident — and the same questions come up every time.
California Law Is on Your Child's Side
California holds dog owners strictly liable for bite injuries — no "one free bite," no need to prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous. Claims are typically paid by the owner's homeowners or renters insurance, which matters enormously when the owner is a neighbor, friend, or relative: you are pursuing a policy that exists for exactly this purpose, not the person's savings.
The Early Steps That Matter
- Medical care first — including follow-up. Bite wounds need monitoring for infection, and facial wounds warrant a plastic surgery consult even when the ER closes the wound.
- Photograph everything, repeatedly. Wounds at day one, stitches, and the scar as it heals month by month. Scars change over a year or more — the record should show the journey.
- Identify the dog and owner and report the bite to county animal control. The report creates an official record and protects other children.
- Watch for the emotional injury. Fear of dogs, nightmares, and anxiety are real damages. Tell the pediatrician; ask about counseling if symptoms persist.
- Don't give the insurer a recorded statement or accept an early offer. Children's claims should never be valued before scar maturation and emotional recovery are understood.
Scarring Is Valued Over a Lifetime, Not a Billing Cycle
Insurers like to value a child's bite by the medical bills — a few thousand dollars of ER care. That's not the law and it's not reality. A facial scar on a five-year-old is a sixty-year injury, and California juries treat it that way. Demands we prepare in these cases rest on plastic surgeons' opinions about permanent scarring, the child's psychological response, and comparable jury verdicts — not the ER invoice.
How a Child's Settlement Is Protected: the Minor's Compromise
A child's settlement in California must be approved by a judge through a "minor's compromise" proceeding. The court reviews the settlement's fairness and the attorney's fee, and the child's money is protected — typically in a blocked account or a structured settlement that grows safely and pays out at adulthood. Parents don't simply receive the funds, which protects the child and, frankly, protects parents from impossible decisions. We handle the petition, the hearing, and the funding arrangements as part of the representation; we've used structured settlements that meaningfully grew a child's recovery by the time they reach adulthood.
A Family Conversation, Not a Sales Pitch
If your child was bitten, talk to us before talking to any insurer. We'll explain the process — including the parts that take patience — with no obligation. Free case review · (408) 909-6113.
This article is general information about California law, not legal advice about your specific situation.